The team behind Two Wheels Across, a full service production house based in the UAE, recently spent 6 weeks in Cape Town to film an aerial portrait of the Mother City. Sit back, put your headphones on, switch to full screen and enjoy the beauty of Cape Town summed up in a 2:37 minute video! Kudos Two Wheels Across!

25 September 2015

The flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, British Airways, will reduce its weekly service between London'sHeathrow Airport (LHR) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town by two flights during the South African winter season (from 27 March 2016) due to commercial reason.
The airline will cancel its flight BA045 between London <> Cape Town on Thursdays and Saturdays, while the return flight between Cape Town <> London (BA044) will be cancelled on Fridays and Sundays. Affected customers will be re-accommodated onto flights BA059 and BA058 on the same day.

MRI Botswana, an emergency medical transportation company in Botswana, has opened a new state of the art medical facility in Kazungula'sBorogo Junction Mall on 22 September 2015. The services of the clinic, which is running under the newly established brand name Prime Health, are ranging from a GP Practice (Prime Health Medical), a Pharmacy (Prime Health) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). All services are offered by a team of qualified paramedics supported by EMS-trained doctors and nurses. Kazungula is located in the far north of Botswana, about 10 km east of Kasane.

Employing and training additional field rangers, providing them with the necessary equipment, building additional ranger accommodation, purchasing vehicles to deploy staff and covering operational costs for rations, fuel and equipment

Establishing an efficient anti-poaching unit

Fencing and key infrastructure upgrades

Preparing and implementing a biodiversity economy strategy for Zinave National Park and the community conservancies that will provide ecotourism and wildlife opportunities

Zinave National Park, situated in the district of Mambone near the Save river in Mozambique's province Inhambane, created by decree on 26 June 1973 and currently covers 4,000km². The Park has very diverse tree species, inlcuding the Acacia nigrescens-dominated plant community, as well as dry Terminalia woodland in a scenic landscape. It boasts massive trees and has a very high carrying capacity for wildlife.

23 September 2015

Chakalaka is one of the most uniquely South African dishes. The usually spicy vegetable relish is popular all over South Africa and comes in many variations (see Jodi-Ann Pearton's version or KitchenCOZA's version) depending on region and, of course, family traditions. Most Chakalaka versions include onions, garlic, chillies, curry (power or paste), tomatoes and beans. It is traditionally served with meat, pap, bread or stews. Capetonian chef Funi presents his version in the video below. Enjoy! Kudos Funi! To get the recipe for Funi's Chakalaka click here!

21 September 2015

travelnewsnamibia.com, the latest addition to the Venture Publications pool of products aimed at promoting Namibia to the world, has produced its very own image film of Namibia. "This is Namibia" highlights all of Namibia's beauty - the open spaces, the undiscovered landscapes, the unspoiled nature, the friendly welcoming people, the abundance of wildlife, the mesmerising scenery - in just 140 seconds! Enjoy the video, experience Namibia! Kudos travelnewsnamibia.com!

18 September 2015

Great news for all travellers planning to visit Uganda and Rwanda by car. A new roadlink from Uganda (Kabale) via Gatunainto Rwanda has been officially opened to traffic. The newly-upgraded section of the road is about 80km long and eases road transport from the tourism hub of Kabale into Rwanda. Costruction of a second axis to and from Ugandan border post of Mirama Hill, where only recently a one stop centre, housing customs of both Uganda and Rwanda, immigration, and security officials, has been inaugurated, is also underway.

15 September 2015

A new museum was launched in Cape Town on 01 September 2015. The Cape Town Museum, which is located in the old Standard Bank building in Adderley Street, is a state of the art heritage institution that will provide innovative ways for local residents and tourists to interact with the collection. The museum will be hosting permanent exhibitions on the history and development of Cape Town from the earliest times as well as exhibitions on contemporary Cape Town and on the Cape Town of the future. The official opening of the Cape Town Museum will be announced in the near future. We'll keep you posted!

09 September 2015

Barry Lewis, a Brit running the cooking web show "My Virgin Kitchen" on youtube.com, recently did a show fully dedicated to treats from Zimbabwe. All the treats were send to him by his friend Rob, who seems originally from Zimbabwe and recently spend a holiday there. Besides dried Mopane worms (see video #2 in the playlist) and Chakalaka from Rhodes, Barry tastes Marie bisquits from Lobels, Korn Kurls from Willards, a bis-kit bar, Apricots from Baxtons and a few more typical Zimbabwean treats. Enjoy!

04 September 2015

According to the latest findings of the Africa-wide Great Elephant Census, which surveyed all major elephant populations in Africa in 2014, Zimbabwe's elephants in the Zambezi Valley have declined dramatically. There has been a 75% decline in the numbers of elephants in the Zambezi Valley south of Lake Kariba (Sebungwe area) since 2001 and a a 40% decline in elephant numbers in the Middle Zambezi Valley, near Mana Pools. The numbers of elephants in the Sebungwe area decreased from 14,000 (2001) to 3,500 (2014) while elephant numbers in the Middle Zambezi Valley, including Mana Pools, decreased from 18,000 (2001) to 11,500 (2014).

A recent census in Mozambique revealed that the country has lost around 50% of its elephants between 2009 (20,000) and 2014 (10,300), while Tanzania even lost 60% in the same period from 109,051 in 2009 to 43,330 in 2014.

Central Mozambique, southern Malawi, northern half of Zimbabwe, most of Zambia, southernmost DRC, south-eastern half of Angola, bulk of Namibia, western half of Botswana, most of central and western parts of South Africa, western parts of Lesotho> Increased chances of normal to below-normal rainfall

Southern DRC, bulk of Angola, most of Namibia, western half of Botswana, most of central and western parts of South Africa and western parts of Lesotho> Increased chances of normal to below-normal rainfall

02 September 2015

Durban in South Africa was awarded the rights to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly meeting in Auckland (New Zealand) on 02 September 2015. The coastal city was the only bidder for the multi-sports event after Edmonton (Canada) withdrew from contention in February 2015. The 2022 Commonwealth Games will begin on 18 July 2022 (Nelson Mandela's 104th birthday) and finish on 30 July 2022. Durban is the first African city to be awarded the four-yearly multi-sports event. Congrats Durban!

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has published the on-time performance results of domestic airlines’ flying out of OR Tambo in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport, and Durban's King Shaka International Airport in August 2015.
On-Time Performance is measured by comparing the actual off-block time
(when aircraft pushes back) against the airline schedule time for a
departing
flight. The measurement is done in accordance with the IATA
(International Airlines Transport Association) universal standard
benchmark with considers a 15 minute deviation from the scheduled time
as an on-time departure.

01 September 2015

The City of Cape Town has issued a warning to all beach and ocean users to be wary of an increased in-shore shark activity over the spring and summer months. Typically, shark sightings start in late August, and continue through to April, with most sightings being reported in mid-summer.

Surfers are asked to be especially vigilant in the stretch between Sunrise and Macassar Beaches during the spring and summer months, as research has shown that the shark presence in these waters increases at this time of year.

November 2015 - March 2016 > The net will operate on a daily basis, depending on the weather. Weekends, public holidays and school holidays will be prioritised.

April 2016 > School holidays, public holidays and weekends

The Fish Hoek shark exclusion net will not be deployed if weather conditions (wind and swell) are deemed to be unsuitable; this will be assessed on a daily basis. If weather conditions deteriorate over the course of a day when the net is already deployed, the net may be removed as a precautionary measure. Additionally, if there is a high presence of whales or other marine mammals in the area, the Fish Hoek shark exclusion net will not be deployed.